SAN FRANCISCO, California — In response to the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami inNorthern Japan, a group of concerned citizens from the Bay Area’s Hawaiian and Asian Americancommunities have organized Kōkua Japan San Francisco, a fundraising concert in Japantown’sPeace Plaza from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 2, 2011. “Kōkua” means “help” in Hawaiian.

Donations to the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund will be solicited at the free event, which will also raise funds through raffles of donated merchandise and T-shirt sales. The nonprofitNorthern California Cherry Blossom Festival will collect the monies and deliver them to theJapanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC), which administers theearthquake relief fund along with Union Bank. One hundred percent of the fund will be distributedfor direct assistance to residents of the affected area of Japan.

Local merchants have donated items for raffle prizes, while Hawaiian Airlines is flying in 200 special“Aloha” T-shirts for sale with the help of the Hawai’i Lieutenant Governor’s office, which iscoordinating the islands’ Aloha for Japan fundraising effort. The T-shirt, which uses a rising sun forthe “o” in “Aloha,” will sell at Kōkua Japan San Francisco for $25, from which the $15 profit per shirtwill go to earthquake relief. Sponsors include Aloha Warehouse, Colortone Digital, Hawai’iChamber of Commerce of Northern California, Susie Kagami, Osaki Creative Group, and SoundInnovations. Thanks also go to Sandy Lee of the San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department.